Special Liturgical
Ministries
Acolytes
Young
people of the parish become acolytes around the age of 10, and serve through
high school. The acolyte coordinator schedules them. Those members interested in
serving may talk to the rector.
Bread and Wine
Providing
Eucharistic gifts is a very old tradition in the church. At Christ Church we
share in providing the bread and wine that are blessed, broken and shared among
us. In our tradition, the bread is made of wheat flour and is not to be
encumbered by fruit, nuts or seeds. The bread should be brought to the sacristy at least 20 minutes
before the 11:00 am service. We use communion wafers for the 8:15 am service.
As is customary in the Episcopal Church, we use wine and not grape juice. The
wine should be a simple red table wine or a fortified wine. Since it will be
used at both services, the wine needs to arrive at least 20 minutes before the
8:15 am service.
The wine
can be left in the office anytime during the week. Please provide a sufficient
amount for 30 communicants at the early service and 90 communicants at the 11:00
service. A standard .75 liter bottle usually is enough. If you offer a larger
bottle which can be used during the week, please provide port or tawny port.
Readers (Lectors)
Reading one
of the lessons at a Sunday service is a special form of public worship. Christ
Church takes lay involvement in our worship very seriously. Any communicant of
the parish (youth or adult) may sign up to read.
If you sign
up to read one of the lessons, at either the 8:15 am or 11:00 am service, you
will receive a package from the church office the week before. In the envelope
will be the name of the liturgist for that Sunday and a copy of the lessons (the
same as the insert found in the bulletin). If you have questions or if you would
like to practice your reading in advance, call the liturgist. The liturgist
would be happy to meet before the service to hear you practice. If you draw one
of those lessons that includes long lists of Hebrew names, refer to the
pronunciation guide in the sacristy. Our lessons are from the NRSV of the Holy
Bible.
On Sunday,
if you check the lectern ahead of time, you will see that the lessons are
marked. When it is time for you to read the lesson, walk up the center steps,
stop for a moment in front of the altar, and then walk to the lectern.
Please do not bring your lesson with you to the lectern. The
lesson is always there.
To ensure
that you are loud enough pick someone in the back pews and pretend to read to
him or her. After you have finished reading the lesson, say "The Word of the
Lord." Wait for the congregation to respond, "Thanks be to God" before leaving
the lectern. Walk back down the side steps and then to your seat.
Liturgist, Sacristan, or Lay Eucharistic
Minister
These three
functions are all performed by the Liturgists, a group of parishioners who, with
the rector and music director, plan the worship of the parish. Anyone interested
in becoming a liturgist is invited to speak with the rector. Liturgists serve
for three-year terms. Some of them, as well as some of the pastoral care team,
are licensed to take communion to those who are sick or shut-in on Sundays or
Wednesdays following the service.
Prayers of the People
Having the
Prayers of the People come from the congregation is a cherished part of Christ
Church's liturgical identity and the theology of The Book of Common Prayer,
1979. A little preparation is required to lead them successfully. During the
week the office staff will send you a full text of the prayer form being used on
the following Sunday. Read it over, noting the places where the congregation is
asked to offer their individual petitions. Practice reading the prayers to
develop a prayerful cadence and tone, while speaking loudly enough to be heard
throughout the church. If you have any questions call the liturgist whose name
will be provided with the text of the prayers. Bring the text with you to church
on Sunday, and lead the prayers from your text.
Sometimes
the prayers are forms from The Book of Common Prayer, but adding the
names is easier from the form you receive.
On Sunday
morning arrive a little early and check in with the liturgist, who will be
reassured you have arrived. This will also give you a chance to learn of any
last-minute additions to the Prayer List and check the pronunciation of any
difficult names. During the prayers allow sufficient time for individual
petitions at the appointed places. Where silence is called for, allow enough
time for the silence to be noticed. Some find it useful to say a short prayer
internally each time to keep the silences consistent.
With
practice many of us have found leading the prayers a moving spiritual
experience. Anyone may sign up to lead the prayers.
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